Watercolour Portrait of Mariinksy Ballet Dancer Xander Parish

Watercolour Portrait of Xander Parish, This is from when I attended dress rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet at The Royal Opera House. I wanted to paint a traditional portrait with a twist. For Xander's cloak I used vintage pages of William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet to symbolise how he superbly encapsulated the role. Xander Parish just received a Britain's National Dance Award for"Outstanding Male Performance". Congratulation Xander smile emoticon
www.zoejameswilliams.com

Xander Parish, Starlit Lovers Series 1

 Xander Parish performing in Romeo and Juliet in The Royal Opera House
This is first of a series and I wanted to capture Xander and Viktoria's beautiful chemisty as they first fall in love as Romeo and Juliet. I used a limited palette to create the twilight effect with a blush for the skin tones.

#Starcrossedlovers series no.1 #romeoandjuliet #ballet #xanderparish #ViktoriaTereshkina #Mariinsky #Watercolor #pastels #charcoal #drawing #thebigdraw
Copyright Zoe James-Williams
Check out Xander Parish Website for up to date information on his dancing schedule. Also you can read a great interview in The Telegraph  Xander gave about becoming the the first British Dancer to be invited to enjoy The Mariinsky Ballet Company in St Petersburg.  
You can also follow him on twitter @xanderparish

At The Mariinsky's Romeo and Juliet Rehearsal with Xander Parish and Viktoria Tereshkina at The Royal Opera House

I was very privileged to be allowed into the Mariinsky Rehearsal at The Royal Opera House for Romeo and Juliet with Xander Parish and Viktoria Tereshkina. Huge thanks to Xander Parish for organising it so that I may paint him in the role. It is a spellbinding performance. Tender, moving and heartbreakingly romantic. There won't be a dry eye in the House tonight. Xander is the first and only British dancer in The Mariinsky, an enormous and well deserved achievement and I am really looking forward to painting and drawing him. 

Going to Stage Door at The Royal Opera House to collect my pass into the Mariinsky Rehearsal

My official pass

Beginning to sketch the rehearsal

My first selfie!! in the auditorium of The Royal Opera House

Raven Girl Ballet Costumes in the foyer. Really Beautiful

couldn't resist this fan. It was so pretty.

Great portrait of Simon Weston at The National Portrait Gallery

BP Portrait Award Exhibition. One of the best in recent years. 

Not sure I liked it but the technique was really amazing. Very striking indeed.

The lace on the skirt for this was beautiful even though you can't really see it here.

Some dainty choux buns from Paul's,  I thought they would make it back in the heat!

Some more interesting links about Xander Parish

BBC interview with Xander Parish

www.xanderparish.com

 Official photos from Romeo and Juliet, The Mariinsky with Xander Parish and Viktoria Tereshkina

Love at First Sight, Marian Walter and Iana Salenko

Love at First Sight

Marian Walter and Iana Salenko in Romeo and Juliet, watercolour

Marian Walter and Iana Salenko of Berlin State Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin . In a gala rehearsal for Romeo and Juliet. Watercolor with Washi Paper. I wanted to capture the intimacy of first moment they met. 
Title Love At First Sight, Romeo and Juliet

I also used washi paper for her dress to not only capture the fine material but to also symbolise their relationship and its delicacy.

Quotes that also helped inspired me together with their beautiful dancing.

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.” 
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, 
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.” 
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet